UW women off and running

MADISON  Balance was the story Thursday night in the 2007-08 debut of the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team.

The Badgers had five scorers in double figures, led by freshman Alyssa Karel’s 18 points, as they raced to a 96-29 victory over St. Norbert in an exhibition game at the Kohl Center.

Jefferson’s Lin Zastrow, the Wisconsin high school Player of the Year last season, added 11 points for the Badgers. Overall, 14 of Wisconsin’s 15 players scored.

The Badgers picked up where they left off last season, dominating both offensively and defensively. They hit 36 of 72 field-goal attempts for 50 percent and made 20 of 27 free throws.

“I’m very, very pleased, obviously, and for a number of reasons,” Wisconsin coach Lisa Stone said. “We wanted to come out and make a defensive presence, which we did, and that allowed us to get into our offense.

“The first possession of the game dictated to me how patient our team could be. I haven’t seen that at a couple of practices.”

UW’s three freshman collected a combined 37 points. Karel was 8-for-11 on field goals, hitting one three-pointer. Tara Steinbauer and Zastrow each were 4-for-6.

“I told Lin that if she puts her hands above her head, she can touch the ceiling of this building,” Stone said of the 6-foot-4 Zastrow. “When she started doing that, it was very difficult for St. Norbert because she could protect the basket defensively, block a few shots, and she can stretch it. The last three (shots) she hit were a good sign of things to come.”